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There were big stops in key situations throughout the 2025 season as a result of John Schneider turning the ball over to the bullpen, but there might have been an equal number of hiccups. The 2025 bullpen was arguably overworked during the regular season, and it showed during the postseason. Schneider’s faith in the backend dwindled to a small number of arms as the postseason progressed. In fact, he had two starters come out of the ‘pen in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Mariners. Like in every successful season, the Jays relied upon clutch hitting and relief pitching. While the Jays’ bats had their ups and downs during 2025, most of the criticism was placed on the bullpen. As Ross Atkins and the front office evaluate their options, they have some big decisions to make when it comes to the later innings. Jeff Hoffman is one of the biggest enigmas. He was phenomenal at times, but over the course of a season, evidence would suggest that he doesn’t have the velocity or the fastball movement to be a dominating closer. Set-up man? Maybe. His struggle to locate pitches was an ongoing issue and is one of the reasons the Jays have been publicly looking at other options. Overall, the bullpen was considerably better than the previous year (when it all but imploded), yet it still ended 2025 as a mid-tier group by several metrics and encountered inconsistency throughout the postseason. If the Jays want to make another push to the postseason, the bullpen will need to be a more dominant, resilient unit. The 2025 bullpen finished the year 16th in ERA (3.98), 14th in WHIP (1.28), 12th in saves (42), and a strong fifth in strikeouts (644). Several relievers were pivotal at different times. Hoffman, who was signed to anchor the late innings, pitched a career-high 71 appearances, which could account for some of his late-season and postseason woes. Seranthony Domínguez, who is now a free agent, offered dominant right-on-right matchups with a microscopic opponent OPS. Mason Fluharty emerged down the stretch, flashing the poise to retire elite hitters in ultra-high leverage. Yariel Rodríguez found more consistent success as a reliever than as a starter, suggesting the bullpen maximizes his value. And you can’t say enough about Louis Varland, who became Schneider’s Swiss Army knife in October, appearing in virtually every scenario, even as an opener. The bullpen also had some late-season and postseason additions and subtractions, as starters Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman and José Berríos saw action. Even Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber both pitched out of the bullpen in Game 7 of the World Series. With that said, the Dodgers also deployed their starters out of the bullpen because of their bullpen woes. Bullpen arms come and go. In 2024, the Jays’ bullpen featured names like Jordan Romano, Nate Pearson, Tim Mayza, Mitch White and Trevor Richards. They all underperformed, and as a result, the season was a disappointment. The 2025 edition fared better. The lesson for the Jays’ front office should be that bullpens are volatile, and success depends on churning the bottom, stockpiling multiple viable high-leverage candidates and leaning into swing-and-miss. Toronto did much of this last season and must double down in 2026. In 2025, the revolving door included Tommy Nance, Paxton Schultz and Justin Bruihl. If they stick around, they could be joined by Jake Bloss (more known as a starter), Lazaro Estrada and Rule 5 pick-up from last year, Angel Bastardo. Can’t imagine any will get a permanent spot in the bullpen, but they might be a stopgap if injuries occur. A sustainable bullpen is not built solely through free agency. The Jays have internal candidates who should be able to contribute meaningful innings. Some should be available by Opening Day, and some are a work in progress and might be available by mid-season. By leveraging these internal arms, the Jays can control costs a bit and be a bit more flexible in the make-up of their roster. With the signing of Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, it might place Berríos in an awkward position when it comes to the starting rotation. Right now, it seems like Berríos could head to the bullpen or onto the trade block. He voiced his displeasure about what he perceived as a demotion to the bullpen at the end of last season. The Jays also have Eric Lauer and Rodríguez as viable swingmen. Lauer proved his value as a starter and reliever in 2025, delivering starter insurance and effective bulk relief. Rodríguez seemed to stabilize as a reliever last season and looks destined to be seventh/eighth-inning leverage because of his command consistency and velocity. While Jays’ fans have long heard about Ricky Tiedemann, the hard-throwing lefty who has had a series of injuries during his rise through the minor leagues, this might be the season he takes the next step. He could usurp Brendon Little (if Little can’t find his stuff again) as the bullpen's top lefty and provide the team with options. Other arms in the system include two more lefties, Adam Macko and Trenton Wallace, who both pitched in Triple-A last season and can offer multi-inning relief. Free agency and trades are where the magic might end up happening. Edwin Díaz could be the back-end solution, especially now that Devin Williams has signed with the Mets and Ryan Helsley has signed with the Orioles. Jays are also rumoured to be interested in signing Pete Fairbanks. Some other notable names in the free agent pool include Robert Suarez, Shawn Armstrong, Kenley Jansen, Hoby Milner, Tyler Rogers, Kirby Yates, Luke Weaver, Mark Leiter Jr., David Robertson, and Sean Newcomb. More likely, if the Jays aren’t successful in getting any of the bigger names, they might target a return of Domínguez. Alternatively, free agents Jakob Junis, Hunter Harvey, Steven Matz or Caleb Ferguson might fit the bill. Modern bullpen management considers a metric called leverage index (LI) to quantify the pressure of a given plate appearance. In recent years, the Jays have been focusing on analytics, especially when it comes to their pitching staff. This includes approaches such as pre-mapping the bullpen plan by identifying opposing lineup clusters where the setup ace is best deployed, dynamic substitutions where certain pitchers could be brought in to face segments of the lineup that include same-sided hitters, and a concept called flexible closer usage, meaning the closer might be brought in for four or even five outs instead of three. Schneider has evolved as a manager and seems to be leaning into analytics. His bullpen usage last season was one of the reasons for the Jays’ success. When he walks to the mound in 2026, he might have new options to consider. View the full article

It wasn’t just the roster that saw changes occur prior to the Winter Meetings, as the front office acquired new talent as well. According to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Cubs director of pitching Ryan Otero is leaving the Cubs and joining the Boston Red Sox's front office. Otero will be a special assistant to Craig Breslow. This move is a reunion for Otero and Breslow, as the duo worked together during the latter’s time in Chicago. While serving as an assistant general manager and the senior vice president of pitching, Breslow’s, right-hand man was Otero. After Breslow left, Otero was promoted to the role of pitching director for the organization. His transition to Boston should go smoothly considering the past relationship between the two. Breslow spoke highly of Otero earlier in the year, saying "his ability to speak very technically, and then also in everyday language that resonates with players and coaches, was something I was drawn to... And so, I was like, this is a guy that I need to pull close and give significant responsibility to." The addition of Otero, while in a different position, should help offset the loss of Justin Willard, who was hired by the New York Mets to be their new pitching coach. View the full article

The MLB Draft Lottery is only in its fourth season, but many Twins fans are still not familiar with it because the Twins have not been in the lottery since its inaugural season in 2022. Draft experts Jamie Cameron and Jeremy Nygaard provide an overview of what the MLB Draft Lottery is and what Twins fans should know ahead of the live event on Tuesday, December 9. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox, as currently constructed, need corner infield help badly. Of the players currently on the 40-man roster, three were expected to provide important roles throughout 2025, but due to injuries only one made it through the entire season, that being Romy González. He played in a career-high 96 games at first base, second base and a brief appearance at third base. Triston Casas and Marcelo Mayer were not as fortunate, as they played 29 and 44 games (87 if we include the 43 games at Worcester), respectively. While the potential is there for both young players, based on the past few years, there is a debate over whether they can stay healthy through an entire 162-game season. When they are healthy, they have shown proof of being starter-caliber players. With that, we’re going to take a look at the current state of the Red Sox's corner infield depth, going over those on the 40-man roster and those who could contribute next year in the event of an injury. Boston Red Sox 1B Starter: Romy González (96 games, .305/.343/.483 .826 OPS, 23 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 9 HRs, 53 RBIs) González is being placed here as the starting first baseman due to the fact we don’t know if Casas will even be ready for the start of the 2026 season. That’s no knock against González; he is just better suited as a super-utility player since he can play all over the infield and is relatively still new to first base (he’s played a total of 78 games there, all coming since joining the Red Sox in 2024). There’s also the possibility of González being the starter at second base, contingent on how the rest of the offseason unravels. Either way, he needs to be in the lineup each time a left-hander starts for the opposing team due to his .331/.378/.600 slash line against them. Should the Red Sox bring in a true first baseman, González will be able to properly serve his utility role for manager Alex Cora and get at-bats from various positions. 3B Starter: Marcelo Mayer (44 games, .228/.272/.402 .674 OPS, 8 2Bs, 1 3B, 4 HRs, 10 RBIs) Much like with González, Mayer is being placed here as the current starter due to Alex Bregman’s foray into free agency and the team lacking another player to plug in at the hot corner. Of course, much like González, he could also be the starter at second base instead. In his short time with Boston, Mayer proved he was ready defensively, mostly playing third base which he handled with east after playing the position just five times between Portland and Worcester. He also appeared at second base and was able to handle the position well. Offensively, it was a different story, as he flashed some power and showed he could currently be league average against right-handers, but against left-handed pitching he struggled to a .154/.185/.231 line. Mayer is still young and has time to learn — his promotion to Boston last year was rushed due to Bregman’s injury — and he should fare better against major-league pitching in 2026. Potential Backups: Triston Casas (29 games, .182/.277/.303 .580 OPS, 3 2Bs, 3 HRs, 11 RBIs) To say 2025 was a rough season for Casas would be an understatement. After getting off to an extremely cold start, the first baseman began to heat up slightly before a ruptured left patellar tendon ended his season in May. This is the second straight season where a serious injury cost him significant time (and the fourth of the last five season where he played under 105 games). However, when Casas is healthy and right. there’s no denying how important his bat can be. Just entering his age-26 season, should Casas get back to the player he looked like 2023 (24 home runs, .856 OPS), he could strengthen this lineup. Nick Sogard (30 games, .260/.317/.344 .661 OPS 8 2Bs, 9 RBIs) Sogard is a fascinating player, as he'd make plenty of teams’ 26-man roster easily with his skill set of playing all over the field and making quality contact. Unfortunately for Sogard, due to his two remaining minor-league options, he’ll likely be shuttled between Worcester and Boston just as he has been for the past two seasons. While Sogard can be solid defensive at multiple positions and has an average hit tool, his power could hold him back as his exit velocities are below average and he only has 12 career extra-base hits in 173 plate appearances. Nate Eaton (41 games, .296/.348/.383 .731 OPS, 4 2Bs, 1 HR, 4 RBIs) Eaton signed with Boston on a minor-league deal prior to the 2025 season and played well enough in Worcester to warrant a call-up to Boston after Rafael Devers was traded. While he didn’t produce many extra-base hits, Eaton managed to set career highs for exit velocity, hard-hit rate and barrel percentage, though he was mostly used as a late-game replacement or pinch runner. Eaton also allows the team to play loose with substitutions, as he can play all three outfield positions and third base. Tristan Gray (30 games, .231/.282/.410 .693 OPS, 5 2Bs, 3 HRs, 9 RBIs) Gray, who was recently acquired for Luis Guerrero, is an interesting depth option for the team. Unlikely to make the team out of spring training the infielder will most likely spend a lot of time with Worcester. Much like Sogard and Eaton, Gray provides the Red Sox with defensive versatility thanks to his ability to play all four infield positions. But unlike the other two, he also has power behind his swing, having what would have been one of the fastest bat speeds on the team in 2025. Gray does have a swing-and-miss issue, but if he makes contact, it's loud. Triple-A Worcester: Vinny Capra (47 games (White Sox/Brewers), .125/.157/.177 .334 OPS, 2 2Bs, 1 HR, 6 RBIs) Capra, who signed a minor-league deal on Thanksgiving, provides the Red Sox with another dispensable veteran depth option should the team need a player for a short term. Capra has the ability to play not just third base but also second base and shortstop, giving the Sox a plug-and-play infielder. Offensively, he is not very good, if we're being blunt. In 142 career plate appearances, he has a batting line of .133/.181/.188 while striking out more times than he has hits (34 strikeouts to 17 hits). But he’s the kind of player the team has targeted before for minor-league depth, a veteran presence who can play multiple positions. Mikey Romero (111 games (Portland Sea Dogs/Worcester Red Sox) .245/.300/.452 .751 OPS, 33 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 17 HRs, 76 RBIs) Romero is a former first-round draft pick based on his potential ability as a hitter, but injuries have kept him off the field for his first few seasons. He did play a career-high amount of games this past season, for what it's worth. Also, Romero began a position change in 2025, playing more third base than shortstop, especially after his promotion to Worcester in July. Romero showcased average in-game power coming into this past season and a healthy offseason allowed him to hit career highs in doubles and home runs. He can make good contact against right-handers but struggles against left-handers and has a history of chasing changeups out of the zone. Defensively, second base may end up being his best position due to his arm strength, and even then, he may not be much more than an average defender. Nathan Hickey (128 games, .234/.325/.408 .733 OPS, 23 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 17 HR, 75 RBIs) While technically listed as a catcher on multiple depth charts, it’s currently due to the fact there are not many options at Triple-A at this point for the Red Sox. Hickey, who was drafted as a backstop, appeared mostly at first base or designated hitter after moving off of catcher in 2024. Defensively, he has taken rather well to the position, having made just four errors across 90 games there the past two seasons. Offensively, he has good raw power but swings-and-misses a bit. Hickey also is patient and knows the strike zone but whiffs considerably on pitches in the zone. He'd be a last-resort option for the Red Sox at first base. View the full article

In 2002 (the first-year reliable data from Fangraphs is available), the average fastball velocity of all MLB pitchers was 89.0 mph. Driven by training enhancements, exercise science, scouting emphasis and changes in pitch design, it has consistently increased over the years. Last season, it stood at 94.0 mph. In an age where it has become axiomatic that higher velocity inevitably leads to success, Tyler Rogers stands out as a complete anomaly. Rogers’s pitches aren’t just slow. They are slowest. His rarely-thrown four-seam fastball is the lowest velocity four-seamer in the entire league at 83.2 mph. His sinker, which he threw nearly 75% of the time in 2025, came in at an average of 83.5 mph. He combines that sinker primarily with a slider that has the velocity of a slow curveball at 72.6 mph. For comparison, the average changeup in MLB in 2025 was 85.9 mph. Yes, the average changeup in 2025 was more than 3 mph faster than Rogers’s fastball. Unlike his twin brother Taylor Rogers, a conventional throwing left-handed reliever currently with the Cincinnati Reds, Tyler has thrown from an ultra-low, submarine arm slot since high school, a style reminiscent of Royals team Hall of Famer Dan Quisenberry- but even lower. Rogers’s release point is just barely over six inches from the ground, almost certainly the lowest in baseball history. That throwing motion limits velocity but compensates with deception, movement and durability. The extreme low arm slot is far easier on fragile elbows and shoulders. Rogers has not spent one day on the injured list in his big-league career. After being drafted in 2013 in the 10th round out of Austin Peay by the San Francisco Giants, Rogers, despite generally good numbers, toiled in the minors for seven plus seasons before debuting in 2019 at the age of 28 and finally becoming a bullpen mainstay for the Giants in 2021. In recent years, ERA has fallen out of favor to FIP, which typically better predicts a pitcher’s future success than ERA by focusing on outcomes largely within their control such as strikeouts, walks, and home runs. In theory, if you miss bats, you will be more successful. Rogers again, is a complete anomaly. He does one thing better than anyone else in MLB. He misses barrels and hard contact while not missing bats. His K% was just 16.1% in 2025. His career xFIP (expected Fielding Independent Pitching) over 424 IP is nearly a full run higher than his ERA (2.76 ERA/3.74 xFIP). In every season in which he has pitched over 28 innings, his xFIP has been significantly higher. He is able to be successful in spite of his inability to miss bats because of his extreme ground ball percent (62.1% in 2025), low HR/9 (career 0.59), low BB% (2.3% in 2025), low HardHit% (32.9 vs league avg 47.8%) and low WHIP (0.94 in 2025). Rogers’s 131 Stuff+ for his sinker in 2025 is elite. Remember, he throws that pitch nearly 75% of the time. He induced an average of 18.2 inches of arm-side run (99th percentile) on it and combines that with a -10.5 inch vertical break. Alternatively, the slider tunnels from the exact same release point, and look exactly the same from the hitter's viewpoint until about 15 feet from the plate when it moves in the opposite direction. He is simply the most effective pitcher in MLB who does NOT have swing-and-miss stuff. He does what modern sabermetricians say is not repeatable, and he’s done it for five straight seasons. One of the ways a small market team can make up ground on the big guys like the Dodgers, who hand out massive long-term contracts like candy, is by building an elite bullpen. Bullpens are more important than ever with starting pitchers giving max effort for fewer innings per start than in the past. The 2014-2015 Royals are a prime example of how a dominant bullpen can be a difference maker for a small market team. Relievers are, by comparison to most other positions, cheaper. Rogers’s consensus projected contract is 2-3 years at 20-25 million ($8-9 million AAV). The Royal’s bullpen is already in decent shape with a returning closer in Carlos Estevez, and high leverage swing man Lucas Erceg. John Schreiber returns along with lefty Angel Zerpa. While there are some intriguing options to round out the pen including Alex Lange and Luinder Avila, adding Rogers along with another lefty would greatly improve the length and strength of the pen. Rogers's splits for left-handed hitters vs right-handed hitters are remarkably similar. Although he is entering his 35-year-old season, his velocity independent history of success, and his remarkable durability alleviate concerns over his age. He is more likely than just about anyone to be pitching effectively late into his 30s. If Rogers is able to repeat his 2025 WAR of 1.3, it would amount to a considerable bargain. For the cost-conscious Royals, this is a no-brainer. View the full article

A look at the improvements Carter Jensen made to not only make himself the top prospect in the Royals organization, but one of the most exciting young catchers in the game. View the full article

Cardinals' utility man Brendan Donovan isn’t just another name on the trade block. If fans were impressed by Ernie Clement last season, Donovan has the potential to outperform that output and then some from the other side of the plate. A career .287 hitter with a .353 on-base percentage, he brings elite plate discipline (13% strikeout rate) and defensive versatility. He can play second base, third base and left field, giving the Jays insurance if injuries strike, or if Bo Bichette negotiations don’t pan out. More importantly, he’s a left-handed bat in a lineup that still leans right. His skills are ideally suited for this team and for October, when pitching gets nasty and contact hitters become gold. Donovan’s name has been mentioned in nearly every trade conversation featuring contending teams, but his fit and the pieces to pry him from St. Louis are there for the Blue Jays. With two years left of team control at $14 million, even the cost falls well within Toronto’s budget. His tools are the likes that are highly sought after these days. He has elite plate discipline, high contact rates and can play just about anywhere. In addition, his skills at extending at-bats and ability to get on make him the type of Swiss Army knife that could make a difference with or without Bichette on the roster. Last season, his first season as an all-star, Donovan had a wRC+ of 118, a WAR of 2.7, and an OPS vs RHP of .790 in 118 games. His average exit velocity is 88mph (ok for a contact hitter), his hard-hit rate is 38%, but he makes up for that with his sprint speed, which is above average. One of the Jays’ biggest weaknesses during the 2025 season was left-handed contact hitters. Daulton Varsho and Addison Barger were literally hit-or-miss. For that reason, the lineup was too boom-or-bust, especially versus southpaws. When home runs dried up, so did the offense. That’s where Donovan fills a big need. St. Louis is cleaning house and working on a rebuild. It started with Sonny Gray to the Red Sox, and rumours are persisting about Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Donovan and others. Ross Atkins and the Jays’ front office have made deals with the Cards in the past, including trading for Jordan Hicks and Génesis Cabrera in separate deals back in 2023. This time around, the price would be steeper for a player of Donovan’s skills. The price might be as high as pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann, but with the team’s win-now window, that might just be a reality. Potential trade packages for Donovan could include Ricky Tiedemann (LHP), Joey Loperfido (OF), Gage Stanifer (RHP prospect) or Bowden Francis (SP), Addison Barger (INF/OF), and 2025 top pick JoJo Parker (SS prospect). If the Jays could land Donovan, he could slide into the leadoff or two-hole in the lineup, preceded or followed by Bichette or Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Anthony Santander, Alejandro Kirk, Daulton Varsho, Ernie Clement, Addison Barger and Andrés Giménez. That would be a pretty potent offense for David Popkins to work with. With Donovan at or near the top, the lineup becomes awfully dynamic. He lengthens at-bats, balances the lineup, and gives John Schneider flexibility to mix and match. If the Jays can’t re-sign Bichette, then Donovan is the next best thing. His ability to work counts, spray line drives and set the table for the rest of the lineup is exactly what the team will need to succeed. If he enters a lineup with Bichette, then those skills will work to the Jays’ advantage by forcing opposing teams to go to their bullpens earlier in games. ESPN predicts the likelihood of Donovan being traded as 75%, and has a long list of other teams interested in his services. Championship teams often make one defining move. The Jays have already made their mark this offseason with the signing of Dylan Cease, but why stop there? It isn’t always the big names that end up making the biggest splash. In 2016, the Cubs added Ben Zobrist. In 2021, the Braves grabbed Eddie Rosario. These weren’t headline-grabbing superstars, but they were versatile, clutch hitters who helped put their teams over the top. Donovan fits that same mold. He’s not going to hit 40 home runs. He will grind out at-bats, move runners, and make the smart play. If the price is Tiedemann, then so be it. Not every pitcher in the Jays’ system will be Trey Yesavage. With the signing of Cease, the Jays can afford to trade one of their pitching prospects. Prospects don’t always pan out. You only have to think back to Alek Manoah, who was drafted 11th overall in 2019. He had a handful of great seasons, then fizzled. Donovan has proven that he can hold his own. As we learned last season, down the stretch and into the postseason, important games come down to pitching duels and slim margins. Donovan’s contact-first approach is a weapon. He’s not here to hit massive home runs, but he will keep innings alive, force mistakes, and create chaos on the bases. Trading for Donovan would also address two unknowns as the off-season continues. It fills the possible void if Bichette leaves, or it complements Bichette’s right-handed, contact-oriented bat with a left-handed contact-oriented bat. He and his on-base skills would help lengthen the lineup. Either way, it is win-win for the Jays. Even from a positional perspective, Donovan’s defensive versatility enables the Jays to play around with the lineups. It also provides them with speed on the bases. Last year’s Jays had a median age of 31.1. At 29, once the season starts, Donovan sits in a range that would suggest he’d fit well in the clubhouse. The only possible flag against Donovan is whether or not he is durable. Foot and groin injuries sidelined him for more than 30 games in 2025. That can be a risk with any player, especially those at or approaching 30 years of age. With that said, anytime a team has a chance to add an all-star, they should consider it. If the Jays can swing a deal with the Cards, the message to MLB and the fanbase is the 2026 Blue Jays mean business. With that said, the Jays need to get in line quickly because it sounds like nearly every contending team will be on the phone with St. Louis trying to add Donovan to their roster. View the full article

The Twins have an interesting offseason ahead of them. So far, they've only made moves around the edges of a roster that appears to be in for significant change. While rumors around Pablo López, Joe Ryan, and Byron Buxton swirl, I wanted to take a look at a move the Twins could make to improve the lineup within the self-imposed budget constraints Twins fans have become all too familiar with. With the obvious roster holes the Twins have after trading almost half of the roster at this past year’s trade deadline, one move they could make to lengthen the lineup a bit is to sign Miguel Andujar. A trade deadline acquisition himself, Andujar played with the Athletics and the Reds in 2025. While this may not be the splashiest of moves, it’s the type of move the Twins front office could make without breaking the bank. Andujar played in just 94 games this year. An oblique strain landed him on the injured list early in the season, and then a quad injury in August effectively ended his 2025 campaign. When healthy, Andujar performed well, batting .318/.352/.470, which was good for a 125 OPS+. Even for a player who is strictly a corner infielder/outfielder, this will provide value to any lineup, especially one with as many left-handed hitters as the Twins have. Andujar has hit lefties quite well throughout his career, so he could spell one of Kody Clemens, Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, or one of the many other left-handed-hitting corner defenders on the roster. Andujar played mostly third base and corner outfield, but has played some first base in his career, as well. Stat Vs LHP VS RHP OPS .986 .759 wOBA .421 .329 wRC+ 171 108 ISO .189 .139 While Andjuar does not walk much (5% walk rate in 2025), he also strikes out less often than most batters. He did so in just 14.4% of his plate appearances in 2025, and 15.5% in the past three seasons combined. The league average is about 22.2%. With Andujar’s ability to play either corner infield spot, or in the corner outfield, he would provide Derek Shelton and company the ability to mix and match, and provide insurance if any of the planned corner bats either underperform or sustain an injury. It might not be a flashy signing, but Andujar could prove to be a nice addition for Derek Falvey and the front office, who are clearly working with a limited budget. He played on a one-year, $3-million deal this past year in his final year of arbitration, so the Twins should be able to add him without breaking the bank. I think a one-year deal in the ballpark of what they signed Carlos Santana to two offseasons ago would get the job done. If it only costs them $5-7 million to secure his services, he would be a bargain, as long as they then utilize him the way they should. View the full article

Jack and Spencer discuss the latest reports about the Brewers' payroll situation, Freddy Peralta 's future, and potential trade candidates. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brewer-fanatic-podcast/id1740648724 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CY8mWsQayqjDXqw9OT2Td iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-brewer-fanatic-podcast-166534588/ Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ommzz627 Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brewerfanatic View the full article

The 2025 Winter Meetings are nearly upon us! The annual four-day event begins officially on December 8 in Orlando, Flordia, though most teams will begin arriving by Sunday, Dec. 7. There's a lot that tends to go down at the Meetings every year, so let's break down the schedule, and the biggest rumors and noise surrounding the San Diego Padres heading into the offseason's biggest event. Padres' Offseason Thus Far The Friars' offseason has been defined more by loss rather than gain. Dylan Cease signed a mega-contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, Robert Suarez opted out of his contract, and Ryan O'Hearn, Michael King, and Luis Arraez all remain free agents. In terms of additions, the team did reunite with Kyle Hart on a one-year contract, and they've signed relief pitcher Ty Adcock to a one-year deal. Thus far, it's been mostly quiet in San Diego. They protected a pair of prospects from the Rule 5 Draft (Garrett Hawkins, Miguel Mendez), non-tendered some relievers (Omar Cruz, Sean Reynolds), and generally prepared the 40-man roster for what should be another busy offseason. There's a lot than needs to be done to make Craig Stammen's first year on the bench a successful one, and that action should begin at the Winter Meetings. 2025 Winter Meeting Schedule Location: Orlando, FL December 8 marks the first official day of the meetings, and it should be a busy one. There's already been a number of notable moves made this offseason, from the Dylan Cease signing to the New York Mets and Texas Rangers' blockbuster trade involving Marcus Semien and Brandon Nimmo. The big expectation is that at least two of the big three Japanese stars (Munetaka Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto, and Tatsuya Imai) will sign at the Meetings, as their posting windows will close within the next month and change. December 9 will be when the league's annual MLB Draft Lottery takes place, though by virtue of making the playoffs in 2025, the Padres won't find themselves in contention for the No. 1 overall pick. December 10 will feature the Rule 5 Draft, in which teams can selected unprotected prospects from other organizations. In order to keep drafted players, teams must keep them on the active 26-man roster (or the 60-day IL) throughout the remainder of the following season; otherwise, the prospects' original team can take them back. In terms of recent Rule 5 picks, the Padres haven't had a ton of success, with their most notable selection being Stephen Kolek, who was traded at the deadline for Freddy Fermin. Years ago, the team did pick up valuable contributors like Everth Cabrera (2008) and Shane Victorino (2002). The Winter Meetings will officially end on December 11, though most teams will depart from Orlando before the finish line is crossed. Still, the groundwork laid in Florida will lead to a cascade of signings and trades through the New Year. Padres Winter Meetings Rumor Roundup When will the Seidlers sell the franchise? Admittedly, this is the thing that looms over everything in Padres Land right now. The team's glut of huge, long-term contracts and declining veterans aren't likely to interest a lot of buyers, so it's possible A.J. Preller gets one more green light to go all-in on 2026, and then the team holds a huge fire sale prior to/after the impending 2027 lockout. As things stand, there's simply not a lot of extra money ready to be funneled into baseball operations, and the farm system is dry. It'll be tough to get free agents to sign with so many long-term questions hanging over the franchise. Will the Padres bring in a legitimate rotation member? With King and Cease out the door -- not to mention Yu Darvish's elbow surgery -- the Padres simply have to add starting pitching in order to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. To put it bluntly: Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove aren't cutting it. They certainly don't have the resources to sign a Framber Valdez or trade for a Tarik Skubal, but could Tatsuya Imai or one of the Kansas City Royals' many starters be in play? Preller probably won't pull off a Juan Soto-esque blockbuster this time around, but if anyone can make something happen, it's him. Can the team get first base help and clear salary at the same time? This will be difficult to pull off, but with Arraez and O'Hearn likely to find new teams this winter, the Padres need someone to man the cold corner in 2026 (and beyond). The aforementioned Royals have Vinnie Pasquantino, who hit 32 home runs in 2025, holding down the fort right now. Could the Padres somehow pull off a blockbuster for him and a starter while offloading a salary like Jake Cronenworth's? It would take all of the prospect talent left in the system, but if 2026 is the last dance for this core, perhaps Preller would pull the trigger. Any more bullpen reinforcements incoming? Peculiarly, both of the padres' big-league signings thus far (Hart and Adcock) are relief arms, though Hart may be pressed into starting duty next year due to necessity. With rumors of Mason Miller and/or Adrian Morejon potentially stepping back into the rotation to fill some gaps, might the Padres continue to seek cheap bullpen help to round out the pitching staff? Or perhaps a reunion with Suarez or an agreement with Edwin Diaz could give the team enough bravado to try Miller out in a starting role. View the full article

With the Chicago Cubs seemingly out of the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes, they are setting their sights on another highly sought-after free agent. PJ Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic are reporting that the Chicago Cubs had a "renewed interest" in Alex Bregman. They pursued the superstar third baseman last year before he signed with the Boston Red Sox. It's been reported that the Cubs' ownership group had greenlit a four-year, $115 million contract with opt-outs a year ago; however, it's not clear what budget they've okayed for 2025. MLBTR predicts Bregman will net $160 million over six years. Bregman finished the year with an OPS of .821 across 114 games. He hit 18 home runs and scored 64 runs, while adding one stolen base. His advanced metrics include a wOBA of .356 and a wRC+ of 125, indicating an above-average performance relative to the league. Bregman produced a total of 0 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 1 Outs Above Average (OAA). The veteran infielder was acquired by Boston as a free agent in February 2025. In all, his season was worth 3.5 Wins Above Replacement (WAR). How much should the Cubs pay for Bregman? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

FanGraphs pleasantly surprised some Twins fans recently, projecting the troubled squad to finish 82-80 in 2026, thanks to their (for now) sturdy rotation depth. Also surprising was an addendum to the projection, however, calling out Marcus Otto, a Twins season-ticket holder, for a litany of issues—including his in-game dietary choices. “Marcus Otto of Maplewood: You will regret your next order of helmet nachos,” it read. “Consider a healthier choice, or (at minimum) sharing the order with friends and family.” Otto was perplexed. “Why are they targeting me?” asked the 42-year-old IT professional. “Is this a common thing that FanGraphs does?” It isn’t. This appears to be the first time in the history of FanGraphs where they’ve dedicated a projection to a non-player. Representatives were unavailable for comment on the 1,300-word analysis, which departed from traditional stats, graphs, and metrics and drilled down instead on Otto’s gastrointestinal challenges and physical appearance. “You know what dairy does to your system, Marcus,” said one section entitled Pete Rose Was the Hit King. Marcus Otto Is the Fart King. “Think about the people sitting next to you. Think about how you’re just pouring yourself into those size-34 jeans. Just get a small popcorn and a water, for God’s sake.” Otto admits that he could eat better, but is dumbfounded why it’s the business of a sports analytics service. “I’ve been making better food choices,” said Otto. “Why is FanGraphs singling me out and being so mean about it?” In the section entitled This is Why Jennifer Left You, Marcus, the analysis gets into Otto’s personal life. “Do you think horfing down cheese-drenched nachos in public is a good look, Marcus?” asked FanGraphs. “What if you end up on the JumboTron, practically unhinging your jaw to cram more sour cream into your gaping maw? Jennifer is never coming back, Marcus.” The Jennifer in question is Jennifer Edwards, Otto’s longtime girlfriend, who ended their relationship in April of this year. She declined to be interviewed for this story. The tone of the piece implies that FanGraphs wants the best for Otto, but the level of insistence and intrusion by the hivemind appears to have stirred the UW-River Falls alumnus's defensiveness, rather than his drive for self-improvement. “How does FanGraphs know I had a girlfriend?” asked Otto. “How do they know we broke up? Why did they send a press release to every media outlet in the Twin Cities with this analysis and the title ‘What to Expect from Lonely Pervert and Nacho Enthusiast Marcus Otto in 2026?’ “It even had a postscript that gave my home address and said if they had any trouble finding it to just follow the closest Domino’s delivery driver. I don’t even order Domino’s that often. This is incredibly hurtful.” Image license here. View the full article

Seam-shifted wake has been a hot topic for baseball nerds over the last few years. Thanks to rapid advancements in the quality of pitch-tracking information, we can now quantify this movement, in addition to the spin-related movement of a pitch. These two types of movement are also known as Magnus movement (spin-related movement) and non-Magnus movement (aka seam position-related movement). The name comes from Heinrich Gustav Magnus, who concluded that when a spinning ball moves through the air, it creates a force that makes it curve away from its straight-line path. The spin changes the amount of friction the air can impart on the ball, and thus alters the effect it has on the ball's flight, relative to what the flow of air across a non-spinning surface would have. Magnus movement is everywhere in sports—especially in baseball. A curveball has topspin, causing the ball to bite downward, while a four-seam fastball has backspin that helps the ball resist gravity and gives the appearance (to a hitter) of rising action. The best example, perhaps, is this YouTube video demonstrating how a basketball (which doesn't have the same raised seams as a baseball, and therefore doesn't have the same non-Magnus effect) reacts when dropped off a dam with no spin, and then with backspin: There are some variables here that don't apply to baseball, but it's perfect for showing one thing: spin affects how a ball moves. Baseballs are vastly different than basketballs, though, because of those seams. While spinning a ball alters how a pitch moves by reducing its friction with the air around it, the baseball's seams increase how the air can affect the ball. A perfectly round object would not encounter any seam-shifted wake, but the protruding seams create an alternative force on the ball in addition to its spin, and often in a different direction. In baseball history, many pitchers have attempted to scuff balls or spit on them to gain some unexpected movement on their pitches, so the existence of this movement is not a new phenomenon, but modern pitchers have found ways to capitalize on the seam position to devastating effect. The reason for this non-Magnus movement (or seam-shifted wake) being so useful is that hitters have no way to see what's coming, unless they've faced that pitch before. While hitters have been trained to identify spin to anticipate the pitch that's been thrown and anticipate how it will move, accounting for non-Magnus movement is a whole different problem. Aaron Ashby is a prime example. He has one of the straightest four-seam fastballs in the game, struggling to generate the riding life that usually defines that offering. However, he boasts one of the best sinkers in the game, with extremely heavy action. The interesting thing is that the spin-based movement (on the left) of his four-seam fastball (red) and his sinker (orange) is not dissimilar. Where he excels is in how he uses the seams to generate up to 10 inches of additional horizontal break and 5-8 inches of vertical drop when he throws a sinker, compared with expectation. This partially explains why hitters struggle to pick up Ashby's four-seam fastball on the rare occasions when he does use it, and why they have a ground ball rate of 65% against it. The ball just keeps dropping on them, in ways that their spin-trained eyes don't expect. You can see from Ashby's profile that he gets a lot of "unexpected movement" on his slider, sinker and changeup, all three of which had above-average swing-and-miss rates for their pitch category and all of which avoided extra-base hits exceptionally well. The unexpected nature of seam position-based movement may be a source for Ashby's persistent command issues, as this is much less repeatable and controllable than spinning the baseball, but the movement he generates is above-average because of seam-shifted wake. One other Brewers pitcher with even more extreme seam-shifted wake control is Quinn Priester. Before coming to the Brewers, the scouting report on Priester was that he had a fringy sinker that had never really performed, and the total movement he generated was nothing to write home about. However, when you factor in his arm angle, spin rate and seam-shifted wake factors, his profile jumps off the page—particularly thanks to his cutter and his sinker. Like Ashby, Priester is getting 6-8 inches of vertical drop on his sinker, relative to what the hitter expects, as well as almost 10 inches of horizontal break. His cutter is moving the other way, riding and breaking in on left-handed hitters with a spin direction that has some crossover with his sinker, making it difficult to differentiate the two pitches based on spin alone. Seam-shifted wake plays up far better when the spin directions of two offerings match or mirror each other, while the non-Magnus effect takes them in different directions out of the hand. Ashby's four-seam fastball and his slider, despite similar non-Magnus effects, would not get mistaken for each other out of the pitcher's hand. Another, better example is how you can see with both Ashby and Priester that the changeup closely resembles their primary fastballs. Not so with Freddy Peralta, whose changeup spins slightly differently from his primary fastball, which makes it easier to recognize and thus lay off. One of Peralta's biggest problems is that none of his pitches resemble his fastball in how they spin. He can get fantastic grades for his raw stuff with the fastball, but its lack of deception out of his hand means he is fighting an uphill battle with his primary offering. He fools hitters with angles and good repetition of his delivery, rather than with spin or non-spin movement. Some pitchers are very spin-oriented. Jacob Misiorowski is a prime example, generating nearly all of his movement from the spin profile. He's heavily reliant on his raw velocity and stuff to keep hitters off-balance: For most pitchers, though, manipulating the seams is part of generating movement that the batter can't readily anticipate and neutralize. Seam-shifted wake has a massive impact on how a pitcher can continue to get uncomfortable swings, the more so when two pitches move differently due to seam position while having comparable spin directions. Ashby and Priester use this to devastating effect, and it's been a major part of pitcher development programs for years. The concept isn't new—many changeups, sinkers, cutters and some versions of the slider have relied on seam-shifted wake for decades. Now, though, we can measure it, train it, and talk about it much more readily, because technology has caught up to the craft of pitching. Pitchers are better than ever throughout the major leagues, and it's not just because there hasn't been an expansion to stretch the league's pitching staffs thinner in over 25 years. Hurlers make better use of technology, and are learning how to not only harness both spin- and seam position-based movement, but use them in concert. Better measurement and understanding of these effects has been a game-changer, and it will continue to play a major role in pitching development and instruction for years to come. View the full article

For many consumers Black Friday and Cyber Monday signal the time period in which it is time to "shop until you drop", buying holiday gifts and presents for the people we find important in our life. While MLB team's don't have a Black Friday discount sale, they do have their own version of a spend-a-thon, and it's during the annual Winter Meetings. Every year, teams, agents and players gather for a few days in December, and because of the proximity to each other, many of the year's biggest free-agent deals and trades are consummated at this event. Last year, for example, Juan Soto signed with the New York Mets on the largest contract in professional sports history while in Dallas for the 2024 version of the Winter Meetings. Though that won't happen again, what this means is that the Chicago Cubs will likely take part in some of this action next week. What, then, should we expect from the North Siders? When: Monday, December 8th - Wednesday December 10th Where: Orlando, Florida Great news for anyone (like myself) who lives on the East Coast! Trades, signings and the like sometimes break at late hours during the Winter Meetings, and in years' past, when they have been held out West, it wasn't uncommon to wake up to breaking news. Just last year, the news that the Cubs signed starting pitcher Matthew Boyd broke at 3:21 am EST. So, while we shouldn't expect the action to entirely die down at night, we're probably in for a slightly-less-late new cycle than when they meetings have been held in San Diego or Dallas. Monday and Tuesday will be full of rumors, and Wednesday will have its' fair share of smoke, it will also be the day of the league's annual Rule 5 Draft, in which teams will begin to fill out their 40-man-rosters from other team's minor-league ranks. Not all is lost after Wednesday, as a slew of moves will happen afterwards, with the groundwork for them being laid over the course of the previous few days. A good example of this: the Cubs' eventual trade for Astros' outfielder Kyle Tucker, which happened shortly after the close of last year's Winter Meetings. How should you follow the action? Social media is your best friend and worst enemy for this. If you know who to follow and listen to (either on X/Twitter, BlueSky or YouTube) you can be among the first of your friends to break the news that something went down. Any of the big names, such as Jon Heyman, Jeff Passan, Jon Morosi, or Ken Rosenthal can be highly trusted to post the truth (Bob Nightengale of USA Today is a little more hit-and-miss than others). Some of the more local outlets that can be trusted include Brett Taylor and Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation (and, if you're looking for non-Cub sources, every team has their own version of Bleacher Nation!), Jesse Rogers, Dave Kaplan or Bruce Levine. Be careful out there, however. Smaller accounts with low follower counts could simply be clout-chasing for clicks or trying to purposefully deceive. A good rule of thumb: always look to see who's following these accounts. Do they have anyone you've heard of following them? No? Best to read things with a heavy hand of "skepticism" then. It's a fun time. Rumors are going to fly fast. Just be careful — some of the hardest to spot are the fakes who are just a letter or so different in their screen name from someone you really trust. Just be cognizant and keep an eye out for the false flags, but have fun following the flow of rumors, too. What are the Cubs going to do with their rotation? There's a good chance that the Cubs will look to solve the hole in their starting rotation during these four days. While it seems unlikely that Japanese star pitcher Tatsuya Imai will sign during the Meetings, most of the rest of the starting pitching market is likely to heat up now that Dylan Cease has set the market. Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Michael King and others who may be on the Cubs' radar will likely come off the board soon. Some have fear with how much the team is willing to spend regarding a recent handful of cost-cutting measures over at Marquee Sports Network, also owned by the Cubs' ownership group, but those fears are just that: fears (as of now). If these fears are a reality, it may push the Cubs into a trade-scenario where they look into cost-controlled starting pitching such as the Miami Marlin's Edward Cabrera or the Washington Nationals' MacKenzie Gore. A trade may not fully materialize at the Meetings, instead taking a day or two beyond Orlando to complete (like their trade last offseason), so it may be a few days before we see the fruits of their efforts on this front come to fruition. Don't be entirely shocked to hear at least one crazy report connecting the Cubs to someone like Tarik Skubal, either. While it's far-fetched and the price would be astronomical, there are those who speculate he could be available a year prior to hitting his own free agency. Could the Cubs enter this sweepstakes? Absolutely, even if it's unlikely. The Cubs still need to fill out a bullpen, but who will they get? The team jumped pretty quickly into the reliever market, nabbing righty Phil Maton a few days ago on a two-year deal, but the Cubs are clearly not done filling out their thing bullpen. While they were connected to Ryan Helsley, he signed with Baltimore over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and reliever-ace Devin Williams is now off the board, taking his talents to the Big Apple, so the team is going to have to look elsewhere for help. A few names to follow in the back--of-their-pen search could be the Tampa Bay Rays' Pete Fairbanks, the San Diego Padres' Robert Suarez, or a reunion with Brad Keller. All three would require more than one year, but all three would add velocity and whiffs to a pen that needs it. Don't think the Cubs will only be looking for high-leverage help, though. Chicago needs to fill out their entire bullpen depth chart. They will probably look at some mid-level pitchers (i.e. Kyle Finnegan, Luke Weaver, etc), some left-handed pitchers to replace outgoing Caleb Thielbar and Drew Pomeranz, and some sleeper names, like reuniting with Mark Leiter Jr. or signing Evan Phillips, who is recovering from an injury and won't be ready until mid-year. When it comes to the relief market, I would assume anyone could be a fit. The Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday will also give the Cubs an opportunity to find some diamond-in-the-rough types as they look to round things out. In 2025, the Cubs selected Gage Workman, an infielder from Detroit, during this event. That did not work out for the team, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them find an arm they think they can mold into a useful bullpen piece. Are the Cubs looking to add to their offense? The Cubs are almost assuredly going to say goodbye to outfielder Kyle Tucker. The team does not seem interested in matching the free agent's price tag and instead appears happy to recoup the compensation pick. With young hitters Owen Caissie and Moises Ballesteros in the fold, as well, they seem poised to let the rookies take the designated hitter spot and run with it. That said, if the Cubs decide to go the trade route (moving, for example, Caissie in a trade for Cabrera) and move one, or both of their young hitters, could they find common ground with, say, Kyle Schwarber and bring the lefty home? Stranger things have happened! More than likely, however, the team will look into finding a Justin Turner replacement. Turner did post a 112 wRC+ against southpaws, but most would agree that his season left plenty on the table, and an upgrade would be in order. If the Cubs want another veteran, Paul Goldschmidt could make sense in this role. The team could also look to the IFA market, with two Japanese stars, Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto, highlighting the class. Both offer power potential and the ability to play some first and third base. Neither projects as purely platoon options, and both would require commitments that appear to be well north of $15 million per year. Is the team looking to find someone who's capable of displacing Caissie or Ballesteros as their primary DH? Korean Infielder Sung-Min Song could be another intriguing IFA for the team. Song does not look to be as in-demand as his two Japanese counterparts, but offers a better glove and some surprising pop. The lefty wouldn't solve the team's platoon issue, but could add a fun option off the bench. The Winter Meetings will be a time in which, at least, some of these questions are going to be answered, but don't expect them all to be solved. Regardless of what happens, the Cubs will likely make a move or two. Matthew Boyd was signed last year and the framework for Kyle Tucker laid. Will this be as fruitful of a year? For the Cubs' sake, hopefully — the team cannot rest on their laurels and squander the 2026 season coming off a 92-win year. The time to add and improve is now. What do you think the Cubs will do during the Winter Meetings? Would would like to see them do? Sound off in the comment section below with your personal hopes, wishes and wants! View the full article

For many consumers Black Friday and Cyber Monday signal the time period in which it is time to "shop until you drop", buying holiday gifts and presents for the people we find important in our life. While MLB team's don't have a Black Friday discount sale, they do have their own version of a spend-a-thon, and it's during the annual Winter Meetings. Every year, teams, agents and players gather for a few days in December, and because of the proximity to each other, many of the year's biggest free-agent deals and trades are consummated at this event. Last year, for example, Juan Soto signed with the New York Mets on the largest contract in professional sports history while in Dallas for the 2024 version of the Winter Meetings. Though that won't happen again, what this means is that the Chicago Cubs will likely take part in some of this action next week. What, then, should we expect from the North Siders? When: Monday, December 8th - Wednesday December 10th Where: Orlando, Florida Great news for anyone (like myself) who lives on the East Coast! Trades, signings and the like sometimes break at late hours during the Winter Meetings, and in years' past, when they have been held out West, it wasn't uncommon to wake up to breaking news. Just last year, the news that the Cubs signed starting pitcher Matthew Boyd broke at 3:21 am EST. So, while we shouldn't expect the action to entirely die down at night, we're probably in for a slightly-less-late new cycle than when they meetings have been held in San Diego or Dallas. Monday and Tuesday will be full of rumors, and Wednesday will have its' fair share of smoke, it will also be the day of the league's annual Rule 5 Draft, in which teams will begin to fill out their 40-man-rosters from other team's minor-league ranks. Not all is lost after Wednesday, as a slew of moves will happen afterwards, with the groundwork for them being laid over the course of the previous few days. A good example of this: the Cubs' eventual trade for Astros' outfielder Kyle Tucker, which happened shortly after the close of last year's Winter Meetings. How should you follow the action? Social media is your best friend and worst enemy for this. If you know who to follow and listen to (either on X/Twitter, BlueSky or YouTube) you can be among the first of your friends to break the news that something went down. Any of the big names, such as Jon Heyman, Jeff Passan, Jon Morosi, or Ken Rosenthal can be highly trusted to post the truth (Bob Nightengale of USA Today is a little more hit-and-miss than others). Some of the more local outlets that can be trusted include Brett Taylor and Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation (and, if you're looking for non-Cub sources, every team has their own version of Bleacher Nation!), Jesse Rogers, Dave Kaplan or Bruce Levine. Be careful out there, however. Smaller accounts with low follower counts could simply be clout-chasing for clicks or trying to purposefully deceive. A good rule of thumb: always look to see who's following these accounts. Do they have anyone you've heard of following them? No? Best to read things with a heavy hand of "skepticism" then. It's a fun time. Rumors are going to fly fast. Just be careful — some of the hardest to spot are the fakes who are just a letter or so different in their screen name from someone you really trust. Just be cognizant and keep an eye out for the false flags, but have fun following the flow of rumors, too. What are the Cubs going to do with their rotation? There's a good chance that the Cubs will look to solve the hole in their starting rotation during these four days. While it seems unlikely that Japanese star pitcher Tatsuya Imai will sign during the Meetings, most of the rest of the starting pitching market is likely to heat up now that Dylan Cease has set the market. Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Michael King and others who may be on the Cubs' radar will likely come off the board soon. Some have fear with how much the team is willing to spend regarding a recent handful of cost-cutting measures over at Marquee Sports Network, also owned by the Cubs' ownership group, but those fears are just that: fears (as of now). If these fears are a reality, it may push the Cubs into a trade-scenario where they look into cost-controlled starting pitching such as the Miami Marlin's Edward Cabrera or the Washington Nationals' MacKenzie Gore. A trade may not fully materialize at the Meetings, instead taking a day or two beyond Orlando to complete (like their trade last offseason), so it may be a few days before we see the fruits of their efforts on this front come to fruition. Don't be entirely shocked to hear at least one crazy report connecting the Cubs to someone like Tarik Skubal, either. While it's far-fetched and the price would be astronomical, there are those who speculate he could be available a year prior to hitting his own free agency. Could the Cubs enter this sweepstakes? Absolutely, even if it's unlikely. The Cubs still need to fill out a bullpen, but who will they get? The team jumped pretty quickly into the reliever market, nabbing righty Phil Maton a few days ago on a two-year deal, but the Cubs are clearly not done filling out their thing bullpen. While they were connected to Ryan Helsley, he signed with Baltimore over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and reliever-ace Devin Williams is now off the board, taking his talents to the Big Apple, so the team is going to have to look elsewhere for help. A few names to follow in the back--of-their-pen search could be the Tampa Bay Rays' Pete Fairbanks, the San Diego Padres' Robert Suarez, or a reunion with Brad Keller. All three would require more than one year, but all three would add velocity and whiffs to a pen that needs it. Don't think the Cubs will only be looking for high-leverage help, though. Chicago needs to fill out their entire bullpen depth chart. They will probably look at some mid-level pitchers (i.e. Kyle Finnegan, Luke Weaver, etc), some left-handed pitchers to replace outgoing Caleb Thielbar and Drew Pomeranz, and some sleeper names, like reuniting with Mark Leiter Jr. or signing Evan Phillips, who is recovering from an injury and won't be ready until mid-year. When it comes to the relief market, I would assume anyone could be a fit. The Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday will also give the Cubs an opportunity to find some diamond-in-the-rough types as they look to round things out. In 2025, the Cubs selected Gage Workman, an infielder from Detroit, during this event. That did not work out for the team, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them find an arm they think they can mold into a useful bullpen piece. Are the Cubs looking to add to their offense? The Cubs are almost assuredly going to say goodbye to outfielder Kyle Tucker. The team does not seem interested in matching the free agent's price tag and instead appears happy to recoup the compensation pick. With young hitters Owen Caissie and Moises Ballesteros in the fold, as well, they seem poised to let the rookies take the designated hitter spot and run with it. That said, if the Cubs decide to go the trade route (moving, for example, Caissie in a trade for Cabrera) and move one, or both of their young hitters, could they find common ground with, say, Kyle Schwarber and bring the lefty home? Stranger things have happened! More than likely, however, the team will look into finding a Justin Turner replacement. Turner did post a 112 wRC+ against southpaws, but most would agree that his season left plenty on the table, and an upgrade would be in order. If the Cubs want another veteran, Paul Goldschmidt could make sense in this role. The team could also look to the IFA market, with two Japanese stars, Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto, highlighting the class. Both offer power potential and the ability to play some first and third base. Neither projects as purely platoon options, and both would require commitments that appear to be well north of $15 million per year. Is the team looking to find someone who's capable of displacing Caissie or Ballesteros as their primary DH? Korean Infielder Sung-Min Song could be another intriguing IFA for the team. Song does not look to be as in-demand as his two Japanese counterparts, but offers a better glove and some surprising pop. The lefty wouldn't solve the team's platoon issue, but could add a fun option off the bench. The Winter Meetings will be a time in which, at least, some of these questions are going to be answered, but don't expect them all to be solved. Regardless of what happens, the Cubs will likely make a move or two. Matthew Boyd was signed last year and the framework for Kyle Tucker laid. Will this be as fruitful of a year? For the Cubs' sake, hopefully — the team cannot rest on their laurels and squander the 2026 season coming off a 92-win year. The time to add and improve is now. What do you think the Cubs will do during the Winter Meetings? Would would like to see them do? Sound off in the comment section below with your personal hopes, wishes and wants! View the full article

In February of 2024, the typically small market-minded Kansas City franchise committed to the richest contract in franchise history when they signed Bobby Witt Jr. to an 11-year, $289 million contract. At an AAV of $26.25 million per season, the signing represented a commitment not just to Witt but also to the fanbase and to winning in general. At the time of the signing, Witt made it clear that he wanted to stay in Kansas City for his whole career, as his favorite players, Derek Jeter (Yankees) and Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox), did growing up. He also made it clear that, like his idols, he wanted to win. After the 2023 season, the Royals had invested $109 million in free agency, bringing in Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha among others, and this spending spree by Royals standards was apparently key in demonstrating the commitment to winning that Witt wanted to see from the Royals before signing his extension. At the time of the signing, JJ Picollo was quoted as saying, “When you’re as talented as he is, the finances will take care of themselves. But he was talking about the culture of winning. That really resonated with [Royals owner John Sherman] and me and was probably the driving factor when we got to the finish line that we had done some things that showed we wanted to win.” Witt will be around until at least 2030, and after a trip to the playoffs in 2024, followed by a disappointing 2025 season in which the Royals barely cracked .500, the clock is ticking. The open question facing Picollo is “how does a franchise unable to match the big spenders surround a generational superstar like Witt with enough talent to be a perennial championship contender?” A pitching staff that was unusually healthy in 2024 more than made up for it in 2025. However, injuries to each of the original starting 5 revealed surprising organizational depth in Noah Cameron, Stephen Kolek, and Ryan Bergert. The bullpen was solid if not spectacular, ranking sixth best in ERA at 3.63. No, despite the injuries, the problem was clearly the offense, specifically the numerous black holes in the lineup once opposing pitchers got past Witt, Garcia, Pasquantino, and Perez. Other than trade deadline acquisitions Adam Frazier and Mike Yastrzemski, no other Royals regulars aside from the big four above were even league-average hitters (100 OPS+). Most egregiously, Opening Day outfielders MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe had a -10 and 37 OPS+, respectively. Ouch. Jonathan India fared slightly better only in comparison, with his mediocre 89 OPS+ offset by atrocious defense at whatever position the Royals tried him at, resulting in a replacement-level WAR of 0.4. Clearly, the Royals need better production from the outfield. Free agent options Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger headline an otherwise uninspiring list of candidates. Tucker is too expensive (12 years, $420 million), and Bellinger is likely headed back to the Yankees; his batted ball metrics aren’t exactly in line with his salary expectations. There may be a few contributors to be found on the outfield free agent market, but nobody affordable who moves the needle in a big way. There is reasonable hope for Jac Caglianone in right field. His destruction of minor league pitching, his eye-popping max exit velocities, and his tape measure home runs make it at least reasonable to think he may overcome his rookie jitters and be a solid contributor, and perhaps more. Who is out there at a position of need and would move the offensive needle in a big way? Bo Bichette. Consensus estimates put him at an eight-year contract of roughly $200 million. Steep but manageable. Bichette will turn just 28 in March and can flat-out hit. Other than an injury-marred 2024 season, he’s been roughly 25% better than league average offensively. His below-average defense at shortstop would presumably be better at 2B, a position he first played in the playoffs this year after returning from a knee injury. There are only a few players with a realistic shot at more than 200 hits in 2026. Bichette and Witt are two of them. Plug Bichette in at second base and at the top of the lineup, followed by Witt, Garcia, Pasquantino, Perez, a much-improved Caglianone, Carter Jensen, and some affordable outfield contributors like Yastrzemski, Rob Refsnyder, Adolis Garcia, or Harrison Bader, and the 2026 lineup starts to look way scarier than 2025. The alternative is the trade market for outfielders and rolling with India at second base. The Royals have two starters who are 34 or older, and another who has never pitched more than 130 innings in a season. Kris Bubic, with his single year of control left, isn’t enough value to land a big bat. Wilyer Abreu or Jarren Duran straight up for Cole Ragans isn’t enough. Ragans has rare stuff. If he stays healthy and puts it all together consistently from a command and execution standpoint, he can win a Cy Young. Unfortunately, Ragans is coming off an injury-marred season in which his ERA greatly exceeded his FIP. Trading him now is potentially trading him at a low point in his value. With a new stadium decision arriving soon and the clock ticking on the best player the Royals have had since George Brett, 2026 is a critical juncture for the Royals. Sal will likely be gone in two years, freeing up significant salary space. It's win now time. Adding Bichette would give the Royals long-term fits in what would be one of the premier infields in baseball and would go a long way in giving the franchise what it hasn’t had in a very long time: a team that can compete for championships perennially. View the full article

A couple weeks ago, Jake Mailhot of FanGraphs presented the site's very preliminary power rankings for the 2026 MLB season, using "an elegant ranking format that measures teams’ relative strength and is very reactive to recent performance." The idea was to provide a benchmark on where each roster stands heading into the most active stretch of the offseason. Many Twins fans (including myself) were downright shocked to see Minnesota ranked 12th on the list with a projected record of 82-80. Obviously that's nothing to write home about, but it's roughly 10 rankings slots and 10 wins higher than I have set my own expectations personally. "Fringe playoff contender" feels a lot more like a best-case scenario to me than a median outcome. But maybe I'm being too harsh? To be clear, these types of predictive forecasts and rankings aren't necessarily all that meaningful. The Twins have repeatedly fallen short of their projections from FanGraphs, including by an MLB-high 14 wins this past season. But, as Aaron Gleeman notes at The Athletic, these projections can "provide useful league-wide and narrative-free context" when assessing the club's relative strength. In other words, objective data like this can help us get out of our own heads. So let's take a closer look. Why does a system like this one view the Twins more favorably than many fans might? And further, if we treat the premise as valid — that Minnesota enters this offseason as a .500-ish team with room to grow — how much should that insight guide the front office's approach? A proven talent nucleus remains in place (for now) I find it easy to get lost in the disposable assets littering the Twins' 40-man roster, and the massive question marks surrounding guys like Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee. But what this FanGraphs ranking really brings to light is the value of Minnesota's remaining contingent of established star talent. Few other teams can boast a core trio matching the caliber of Byron Buxton, Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan. It helps to have your best players at positions like center field and starting pitcher, where impact is maximized. Of course, all three have seen their names bandied about in trade rumors. The concentration of projected value in these players alone underscores how much the team's fortunes will be affected if they deal one or more — presuming they aren't getting back similar present-day value, which is a tough needle to thread. ESPN's own projections view the Twins a bit less favorably, but still not terribly, at 17th in the majors. "If the Twins' roster trends even younger and cheaper," writes Bradford Doolittle, "this ranking will tumble accordingly." Projections are more about form than function Does a model like FanGraphs account specifically for the fact that the Twins currently have no viable late-inning relievers? Not really. It just sees an overall pitching staff that is undeniably deep on quality, and assumes the logistics will work themselves out. In real life, we know it's not that simple. You're just not going to win without at least a decent bullpen and right now that's the most difficult gap to envision getting filled. The Twins have so many late-game roles to address and so little to work with. Even if you assume a couple of immediately successful starter transitions, and a bounce-back year from Cole Sands, the Twins are still probably short of a dependable all-around unit. Similarly, projection systems that are looking at raw performance forecasts might not account for the challenges posed by an overabundance of left-handed hitting corner outfielders. But maybe this example poses an opportunity: flipping one of their redundant bats for relief help from other rosters. There's work to be done In the power rankings from FanGraphs, the Twins were listed above several larger market teams — Rangers, Cubs, Orioles, Astros, Giants, etc. — that are very likely to leapfrog them through a more aggressive course of action this offseason. Unless the Twins surprise us by focusing more on adding that subtracting, they're bound to fall behind in the hot-stove reshuffle. Admittedly I've found myself wondering whether it even makes sense to push much, given all they lost at the deadline last year and all the structural issues plaguing this roster. If the ESPN ranking (17th) is more accurate than the FanGraphs ranking (12th), is it even logical to try and keep pace with the lower-middle of the pack versus blowing it all up and supplementing the farm for future efforts? These are the weighty questions hanging over the Twins and their front office as the Winter Meetings get rolling and the offseason action accelerates. Up to this point there has been little indication that Minnesota intends to lean into a competitive approach, aside from what Derek Falvey has positioned as wishful thinking at the mercy of ownership. But if you put any stock into the projection system from FanGraphs, it's possible the Twins don't have THAT much work to do in order to become a credible threat in 2026. View the full article

Earlier this week on the Marlins Hot Stove Show, Miami Marlins Clayton McCullough revealed that Connor Norby could be utilized as an outfielder next season. That's notable considering the organization has previously been so adamant about Norby devoting all of his energy to third base. Every defensive appearance he's made since mid-August of 2024—minor league and major league, including rehab assignments and even spring training—has been at the hot corner. Norby's conversion to third base has been unsuccessful. He lacks the dexterity to adjust to in-between hops and the reaction time to get in front of extremely hard-hit balls. As a result, he has totaled minus-9 outs above average and minus-10 defensive runs saved in less than a full season's worth of action. His primary focus is continuing to develop there, per McCullough, but it's no longer sensible for that to be his sole focus, especially when the Marlins have another in-house option, Graham Pauley, who has shown himself to be a great third baseman. The Marlins will attempt to increase Norby's defensive versatility by revisiting positions he used to play as a prospect in the Baltimore Orioles organization. During his MiLB career, he spent 497 innings in left field and 206 ⅔ innings in right field, with the vast majority of those reps coming at the Triple-A level. Grinding tape from the 2023 and 2024 seasons, I was encouraged by Norby's performance, even though it was a bit rough around the edges. The ceiling for his defense is higher in the outfield corners than at third base. Norby definitely has enough athleticism to be an outfielder. His 28.8 ft/sec Sprint Speed from 2025 is right on par with the typical center fielder and comfortably above most corner guys. He runs well enough to compensate for poor initial reads and overcome circuitous routes. His arm strength is also an asset. Here is the top highlight that I've come across from Norby's outfield days, approximately 230 feet on the fly directly to the catcher's facemask despite his momentum taking him into foul territory: nn0sm5_1.mp4 In this next scenario, there was no chance at a double play, but he flaunted the upper limit of his throwing range from more than 300 feet away: norby of_arm strength (309 ft).mp4 Norby's main weakness in the outfield was his overzealousness. He would occasionally attempt desperation throws to the plate like the one above even when it meant gifting the trail runner(s) a free 90 feet. I saw him misplay balls when rushing to field them off the ground, and turn singles into extra-base hits with ill-advised dives. But his communication with teammates on fly balls was fine and he demonstrated an understanding of who had priority in each situation. Although he didn't look particularly smooth when navigating around outfield walls, he made all the plays that he was supposed to make. Regardless of which moves the Marlins make over the course of this offseason, I'd like to see Norby get reacquainted with the outfield in spring training. Ultimately, the 25-year-old's playing time will be influenced most of all by his offensive adjustments (.251/.300/.389 slash line in 88 games last season). He'll need to be more selective against right-handed pitching and more of a power threat against lefties to stake his claim to an everyday role. View the full article

The 2025 Winter Meetings are nearly upon us! The annual four-day event begins officially on December 8 in Orlando, Flordia, though most teams will begin arriving by Sunday, Dec. 7. There's a lot that tends to go down at the Meetings every year, so let's break down the schedule, and the biggest rumors and noise surrounding the Boston Red Sox heading into the offseason's biggest event. NOTE: The Red Sox completed their Jhostynxon Garcia trade with the Pirates shortly before this article was set to publish. Red Sox's Offseason Thus Far The big move Boston has made was the acquisition of Sonny Gray in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. The 36-year-old right-hander should be a perfect fit in the middle of Alex Cora' rotation alongside Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello. Otherwise, the team has focused on protecting prospects and preparing the 40-man roster for a busy offseason. Some notable non-tenders (Nathaniel Lowe) and minor trades (Luke Heyman, Ronny Hernandez) clog up the team's transaction log, but for the most part, this is still largely the same roster the team had when the 2025 season ended. The Red Sox's notable free agents include Alex Bregman, Lucas Giolito, and Steven Matz. In terms of previous Winter Meetings, the Sox brought in both Chris Sale (2016) and Crochet (2024) at the event in past years. This is perhaps the single-best chance to make a trade on the league calendar thanks to the proximity of every major front office executive, though Boston may focus on free agents this time around after trading for Gray. 2025 Winter Meeting Schedule Location: Orlando, FL December 8 marks the first official day of the meetings, and it should be a busy one. There's already been a number of notable moves made this offseason, from the Dylan Cease signing to the New York Mets and Texas Rangers' blockbuster trade involving Marcus Semien and Brandon Nimmo. The big expectation is that at least two of the big three Japanese stars (Munetaka Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto, and Tatsuya Imai) will sign at the Meetings, as their posting windows will close within the next month and change. December 9 will be when the league's annual MLB Draft Lottery takes place, though by virtue of making the playoffs in 2025, the Red Sox won't find themselves in contention for the No. 1 overall pick. December 10 will feature the Rule 5 Draft, in which teams can selected unprotected prospects from other organizations. In order to keep drafted players, teams must keep them on the active 26-man roster (or the 60-day IL) throughout the remainder of the following season; otherwise, the prospects' original team can take them back. In terms of recent Rule 5 picks, the Red Sox have a few members of their bullpen (Justin Slaten, Garrett Whitlock) who stand out as excellent selections. The Winter Meetings will officially end on December 11, though most teams will depart from Orlando before the finish line is crossed. Still, the groundwork laid in Florida will lead to a cascade of signings and trades through the New Year. Red Sox Winter Meetings Rumor Roundup Sonny Gray won't be the only starting pitching addition. This is something we've believed since the moment the Gray trade was made, but at this point, it seems to be a lock. The Red Sox made sure the Cardinals ate a bunch of salary so they could maintain flexibility throughout the remainder of the offseason, be it via more trades or a blockbuster free agent or two. My money is still on Freddy Peralta, but Tatsuya Imai remains a very popular name that continues to pop up in rumors. I also wouldn't be stunned if the team finally leverages its outfield depth to swing a trade with Jerry Dipoto and the Mariners, who have seemingly soured on Victor Robles in right field. Will Sonny Gray be extended? From what I've seen, this topic hasn't come up much, but it is a pressing matter. Gray, 36, is a free agent after the 2026 season, assuming his $30 million mutual option is declined in favor of a $10 million buyout. With the 2027 lockout looming, Gray would be wise to secure one last big contract, though I don't expect the Red Sox to be the ones to pay it. Gray was acquired as a true one-year rental, and I'd imagine Craig Breslow has every intention of maintaining some payroll and roster flexibility for next offseason. Are the Red Sox prioritizing a reliever? Aroldis Chapman was utterly brilliant in 2025, and set-up man Garrett Whitlock wasn't far behind. Yet, Chapman is 37 and had a long run of mediocrity before his maiden campaign in Boston, and Whitlock can become a free agent next year if the team declines his option. Thus, it shouldn't be a surprise that the Red Sox have been poking around the bullpen market in free agency. And I'm not talking about a small play like a reunion with Steven Matz — I mean that there's real smoke on the reliever fire, whether it be a more cost-effective option like Pete Fairbanks or a true upper-echelon closer like Edwin Diaz. I'm under the impression the latter will only happen if the team swings and misses on all of its primary starting pitcher targets, but pairing Chapman and Whitlock up with another elite leverage arm could shorten a lot of games in 2026. What on earth is happening at first base? Truthfully, I don't know, and I'm not sure anyone does. Triston Casas has more fans than detractors in the organization, but you simply can't rely on him to stay healthy at this point. I'm pretty sure the Sox don't want Murakami -- his strikeout issues are a real concern for MLB teams -- and Okamoto is probably going to exit their "comfortable" price range. Power is a necessity, so someone like Luis Arraez is off the table as a reclamation project. This truly might be a spot where a trade has to happen, unless the Red Sox completely pull a 180 on their modus operandi and sign an aging Pete Alonso to a long-term contract. View the full article

There are two ways former MLB players can be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The first is the annual election conducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (“BBWAA”). The second is selection by an Era Committee, formerly known as the Veterans Committee. Of the 278 former major league players who are members of the Hall of Fame, 117 were elected by an Era/Veterans Committee. This year's Era Committee will officially announce the election results on December 7, 2025. Concerning the BBWAA’s election, an eligible player’s name must appear on at least 75% of the BBWAA ballots cast in a given year to become a Hall of Fame member. The BBWAA removes a candidate from future ballots if either the candidate’s name appeared on fewer than five percent of the ballots or the player was on the ballot for 10 years but did not meet the 75% condition. Delgado’s name initially appeared on the BBWAA’s ballot in 2015. Unfortunately, his name appeared on only 3.8% of ballots cast, and the BBWAA removed him from future ballots. Now, for the first time, Delgado is on a Contemporary Baseball Era Committee ballot, for the Hall of Fame class of 2026. To gain entrance into the Hall, Delgado’s name must appear on at least 12 of the 16 Era Committee ballots cast. Delgado played 17 seasons, 12 with the Blue Jays (1993-2004), one with the Marlins (2005) and four with the Mets (2006-2009). He posted a 135 wRC+ and a 44.4 bWAR. Other highlights from his career include the following: His wRC+ was 19th among the 162 players who played during his career (1993-2009) and had at least 5,000 plate appearances. Concerning first basemen, Delgado’s wRC+ was the eighth highest, and, notably, five of the seven first basemen ahead of Delgado are Hall of Famers (or future Hall of Famers, in the case of Albert Pujols). Delgado hit 473 home runs, which is 34th all-time. Among players whose careers began after 1979, his home run total ranks #16 overall and eighth among first basemen. In four seasons, Delgado finished in the top 10 of MVP voting: 2000 (4th), 2003 (2nd), 2005 (6th) and 2008 (9th). He won three Silver Slugger Awards (1999, 2000 and 2003). Delgado had two seasons in which his bWAR was in the top 10 among position players (2000 and 2003). Delgado’s last full MLB season was 2008, his age-36 campaign. He generated a 123 wRC+ with 38 home runs and a 1.3 bWAR. In 2009, he played 26 games, but did not play after May 10 due to a hip injury. Subsequently, Delgado underwent two hip surgeries. He attempted a comeback in 2010 with Boston’s Triple-A affiliate, but after five games, he called an end to the comeback and his MLB career. Delgado was not known for his defence. As a first baseman, his Total Zone per 1,200 innings was -2. That is inferior to Don Mattingly’s +3, and many MLB observers considered Mattingly to be a premier defender at first base. I wrote about Mattingly's candidacy earlier this week; the former Blue Jays bench coach is on the same Hall of Fame ballot as Delgado. Concerning dWAR, the career marks of Delgado and Mattingly are -17.2 and -6.2, respectively. Delgado’s best case for Hall of Fame membership is his home run total. Of the 33 players with more home runs, 24 are Hall of Famers, seven were linked with performance-enhancing drugs (Barry Bonds et al.) and have yet to be elected to the Hall of Fame, and two are almost-certain Hall of Fame members (Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera). If the Era Committee does not elect Delgado to the Hall of Fame, he will be the only non-PED-linked name among the top 34 home run hitters not in the Hall. Onto the bWAR numbers! Three bWAR-based metrics are valuable for evaluating whether a player has earned Hall of Fame membership: bWAR, WAR7, and JAWS. bWAR does not require explanation, but WAR7 and JAWS do. One of the limitations of career bWAR is that a Hall of Fame candidate may have generated a high bWAR because they had a lengthy career. Since a Hall of Famer should be one of the best at their position over multiple seasons, WAR7, the total of a player’s seven highest bWAR seasons, is informative because it measures dominance across many years. JAWS, developed by Jay Jaffe, is the average of bWAR and WAR7, and it is instructive because it balances these two metrics (bWAR and WAR7). Jaffe, now of FanGraphs, wrote an excellent article about Delgado’s Hall of Fame candidacy. However, as with Mattingly, it is the bWAR-related metrics that most hurt Delgado’s Hall of Fame candidacy. In addition to Delgado, Table 1 shows the career bWAR marks of the top 15 first basemen whose MLB careers began after 1979. Delgado’s bWAR, WAR7 and JAWS numbers are noticeably below the average of the Hall of Famers on the list (Jeff Bagwell, Frank Thomas, Jim Thome, Todd Helton, Fred McGriff, and David Ortiz). Of these Hall of Fame members, McGriff was the only one voted in by an Era Committee. Delgado’s bWAR, WAR7 and JAWS marks are 44.4, 34.5 and 39.4, which rank 19th, 21st and 18th, respectively. Concerning the all-time Hall of Fame list, there are 25 first basemen. Their average bWAR, WAR7 and JAWS are 65.0, 42.0 and 53.5, respectively. Furthermore, among all first basemen, Delgado’s bWAR and WAR7 rank 40th, and his JAWS slots in at #38. Circling back to Table 1, Delgado’s WAR7, like Mattingly's, is similar to those of Ortiz and McGriff. So, should he be in the Hall of Fame? The answer is no, because Hall of Fame membership should be exclusive and reserved for those who were clearly the best of their era at their position. In other words, the entrance bar should be set high. The Hall of Fame candidacies of Ortiz and McGriff were marginal. The bar should not be lowered further to grant Hall of Fame access to Delgado or Mattingly. The Last Word The threshold to be a Hall of Famer should be set high. Although Delgado’s home run total is impressive, there should be more than one aspect of hitting, no matter how important that one aspect is, that vaults a player into the Hall. Delgado’s all-around game, as measured by bWAR-related metrics, places him, like many players, in the Hall of Very Good, not the Hall of Fame. View the full article

On Thursday in winter ball, Deyvison De Los Santos (Dominican Republic) went 1-for-4 with a game-winning two-run triple. Jared Serna (Mexico) went 1-for-4. Jacob Berry (Puerto Rico) went 0-for-3 with a walk. Eric Rataczak (Australia) went 2-for-5. Only 111 days away from Marlins Opening Day. 🔷 Add Cedric Mullins to the growing list of free agents who the Marlins reportedly pursued before getting outbid. The Fish are gradually running out of excuses for their inactivity as 19 of the 29 other MLB clubs have completed at least one major league free agent signing this offseason. 🔷 I watched clips of Connor Norby's outfield defense from the 2023 and 2024 seasons and came away optimistic that he could become more effective there than he has at third base. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough insists that Norby's "focus" is still on playing third. 🔷 Louis Addeo-Weiss reflects on the career of Baseball Hall of Fame candidate Carlos Delgado, whose 2005 season was as impressive as any we've ever seen from a Marlins first baseman. 🔷 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp executive vice president and general manager Harold Craw has been hired by the Tampa Bay Rays. The Jumbo Shrimp elevated Matt Goudreau to fill his shoes while promoting Noel Blaha to senior vice president. Jacksonville's hitting coach, Mike Marjama, announced that he'll be working for the San Francisco Giants (his childhood team). 🔷 This week, the Marlins added job postings for part-time guest experience staff, a senior software engineer, a coordinator of partnerships and a pro scouting internship. 🔷 Every year, I enjoy passing along historical comps for all players on the Marlins 40-man roster courtesy of Dan Szymborski's ZiPS projections. 🔷 Tyler Boronski interviewed former Marlins great Dontrelle Willis about his playing career and becoming a broadcaster. 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, old friend Miguel Rojas re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year, $5.5 million deal. He will retire after the 2026 season and transition to a player development role within the organization. The Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a five-player trade centered around outfielder Jhostynxon García and Johan Oviedo. loanDepot park will host the La Gente del Barrio Celebrity Softball Game & Home Run Derby on Saturday. On Sunday night, we'll find out who (if anybody) the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee has picked to join the 2026 Hall of Fame class. View the full article

Many of baseball's most prolific players at the turn of the 21st century were indicted on or suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs. Thankfully, there were a few exceptions who showed us that one didn't need such substances to hit home runs with the best of them. These are your Jim Thome (612 HR), Frank Thomas (521), Ken Griffey Jr. (630), and Fred McGriff (493) types, and somewhat lost amidst them, Carlos Delgado (473). Thome, Thomas, and the Junior Griffey were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. As for McGriff, he was repeatedly snubbed by the writers. It wouldn't be until 2023 that he resurfaced on the Contemporary Baseball Era player ballot. The committee emphatically supported his candidacy. Three years later, Delgado hopes to follow in the paw prints of "Crime Dog" as that same committee will convene this Sunday at the commencement of the sport's Winter Meetings. On the surface, Delgado's biggest boon is his home run total, which ranks 19th in the divisional era (1969-present). Nine of the 18 ahead of him are Hall of Famers, with two more—Albert Pujols (703) and Miguel Cabrera (511)—seen as slam-dunk picks once eligible. Barry Bonds (762) and Gary Sheffield (509), players with ties to PEDs, are also being considered by the committee for 2026 enshrinement. Delgado homered 336 times for the Toronto Blue Jays and 104 times for the New York Mets, as well as 33 times during his lone season as a member of the then-Florida Marlins. The Marlins signed Delgado to a four-year/$52 million contract after 12 seasons with Toronto. He hit the ground running for the Fish in 2005, hitting .300 in April. The subsequent month was even better, featuring eight home runs en route to a 1.085 OPS. Of all hitters in franchise history to take at least 100 plate appearances in May, Delgado's OPS in '05 ranks ninth. Delgado's consistency was remarkable and the end result was a .301/.399/.582/.981 slash line. In high-leverage situations (as defined by Baseball-Reference), he was practically invincible, slashing .421/.487/.916/1.403. No MLB hitter has matched that OPS in a single season since (min. 100 PA). Even when put into the context of 2005's offensive environment, Delgado had a 161 OPS+ (with 100 representing league average). Of the 144 Marlins hitters to qualify for a batting title, that ranks fourth. Delgado finished sixth in National League MVP voting for a Marlins team that remained in playoff contention until late September, ultimately being eliminated after a 4-0 loss to the Nationals on the 26th of that month. Florida would finish the season 83-79, then just their fourth winning season in franchise history, falling six games short of the NL Wild Card. And just like that, it was time for another rebuild in Miami. The 33-year-old Delgado, despite his obvious value on the field, was jettisoned in favor of younger, cheaper talent. Less than two months following the end of the season, the Marlins traded Delgado to the division rival New York Mets in a deal that netted them Mike Jacobs. Jacobs would settle in as Miami's first baseman, hitting 69 home runs over the next three seasons with a respectable 105 OPS+. But to this day, Delgado is the best power hitter that the franchise has ever deployed at the position. Particularly in recent years, first base has been a revolving door of mediocre individuals worried about clearing the replacement-level threshold, to say nothing of the HOF election threshold. Throughout the vast majority of his career—including 2005—Delgado's glove was a statistically significant liability. As a Marlin, he posted an MLB-worst minus-20 defensive runs saved. It negated a chunk of his offensive production, hence his lifetime 44.4 bWAR. Hitters rarely reach Cooperstown with such a low total. At least 12 of the 16 Contemporary Baseball Era Committee members will need to vote for Delgado in order for him to reach, in his words, "the ultimate goal." View the full article

Well, we knew the Boston Red Sox had to deal from their outfield coffers eventually. This isn't exactly the blockbuster deal most had in mind, but it certainly qualifies as the team's second major trade of the offseason. The Pittsburgh Pirates are getting top prospect Jhostynxon Garcia and 18-year-old pitcher Jesus Travieso in exchange for major-league starter Johan Oviedo and a pair of prospects, pitcher Tyler Samaniego and catcher Adonys Guzman. Oviedo has a career 4.24 ERA in 361 innings, though he only made nine starts in 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Plenty more to come on this deal... View the full article

After an uneven rookie season, Matt Shaw has only a tenuous hold on the third-base job for the 2026 Chicago Cubs. Shaw comes with six more seasons of team control and will make a league-minimum salary for at least the next two years, and his defense improved by leaps and bounds over the course of 2025, but his bat is a shakier proposition. Thus, as the team tries to upgrade its roster for next season, one free agent in whom they've taken a noteworthy interest is a player with whom they flirted last offseason, as his free agency stretched into late January and early February: Alex Bregman. Sources with knowledge of the team's thinking confirmed to North Side Baseball what Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney reported at The Athletic. The Cubs are considering a version of their offseason where Bregman is the headline signee, which might mean trading Shaw (or other young hitters) to address their remaining need for a top-tier starting pitcher. However, they haven't yet made more than cursory contact with agent Scott Boras about signing Bregman. It should stay that way. Here, in a nutshell, is why. Last winter, the opportunity to sign Bregman as a free agent was rightfully tantalizing. He cost the Red Sox a draft pick and some international spending capacity, because he'd rejected a qualifying offer from the Astros, but he signed a short-term deal and was always likely to opt out of it after 2025. Now, however, he's shopping for a truer long-term home. That doesn't make sense for the Cubs at the price Bregman is likely to command, because his power is probably fading in an irreversible way. Bregman consistently swung the bat around 71.5 miles per hour in 2024, even in a season when his power production sagged. In 2025, he started at roughly the same level, but it was considerably slower after he missed considerable time with a strained quad. It's possible that his true-talent swing speed didn't diminish much within the season, but it's highly likely that it's about to. Bregman will turn 32 years old just after Opening Day. As that chart from Tom Tango showed, at 32, hitters start losing bat speed at an accelerating rate. We're unlikely to see the former All-Star get back the bat speed he lost, even if he only lost it because of an injury from which he's now fully recovered. If Bregman swung the bat as fast as Kyle Schwarber or Pete Alonso, that wouldn't be so bad. Those sluggers are over-30 free agents this winter, but are in line for big deals because they have power that should remain well above average for the next few years. That just isn't true of Bregman. Based on the aging curve for bat speed, only two right-handed batters showed the ability to generate big power while swinging as slowly as Bregman is likely to swing in 2026: the Dodgers' Will Smith and new Orioles outfielder Taylor Ward. Baltimore traded a high-upside starter for Ward earlier this offseason, in Grayson Rodriguez, but that's because Rodriguez is a major, perennial injury risk—and because they only need to worry about Ward for one year, before he'll hit free agency. Expect Ward's market to be surprisingly cold next winter, because he'll be a power-oriented righty hitter with a slow swing, heading toward his mid-30s. That's what Bregman is right now. He made a world of sense on a short-term deal, but a source close to the longtime Astro said he's looking for a five-year contract this time around. He might have to settle for a four-year pact, but even that would likely pan out badly. He's not a power-only player, in that he makes contact at a very high rate and draws walks well, but Bregman is too small to project to hold onto his bat speed unusually well; too slow to hold onto much value on the bases, or to augment the upside of a balls-in-play, high-average profile for the medium-term future; and too weak-armed to stay at third base all the way through even a four-year engagement. If his market doesn't go where Bregman hopes, and he's available for under $100 million on a four-year deal, he fits the Cubs' needs. That would leave money free to bolster the rotation and the bullpen, while rounding out the lineup nicely. Certainly, if he ends up being open to another one-year deal, the Cubs should be willing to throw big money at him. If, however, he commands an annual average value over $30 million on a deal of three years or longer, the Cubs should stay away. He didn't go over a cliff in 2025 with the Red Sox, thanks to adjustments focused on pulling the ball in the air and banging balls off the Green Monster at Fenway Park. He might very well start a steep decline in 2026, though, and Wrigley Field doesn't offer the cushion against that kind of trouble that Fenway or Houston's Daikin Park do. The Cubs are unlikely to be as good in 2026 as they were in 2025. Bregman is the kind of player who could change that, but the type of deal he appears to want wouldn't allow them to do the other things they need to do to justify it. If Chicago wants a big bat in this free-agent market, they would be better off shelling out bigger bucks for Alonso or Bo Bichette. They would be even wiser to roll the dice and sign Kazuma Okamoto, out of NPB, instead—and to spend the attendant savings on a more robust upgrade of their pitching staff. Bregman was a perfect fit last year, and Jed Hoyer should have done more to bring him in. That golden opportunity has passed, and the Cubs should move on, rather than making a big-money mistake on a player heading into his twilight. View the full article

Byron Buxton has repeatedly stated that he would stay in the Twin Cities for the rest of his career. Now, the veteran star appears increasingly open to the idea of waiving his no-trade clause. That shift has quietly pushed the door open for teams like the New York Mets, who have been circling for months and believe they are one impact defender away from transforming their offseason. Let's take a deeper look into why the Buxton trade conversation has resurfaced, why the Mets remain heavy suitors, and which young players could catch the Twins' interest if talks gain traction. Why a Buxton Trade Is Back on the Table If the Twins had kept their veteran core intact at last summer’s trade deadline, this conversation might feel far-fetched. Instead, the front office pivoted toward selling, after injuries and inconsistency dragged Minnesota out of the AL Central race. Buxton stayed put then, but the logic behind that decision appears to be changing. Buxton has three years and just $45 million remaining on his extension, making him one of the league’s best dollar-for-dollar values following a 2025 season in which he launched 35 home runs; posted an .878 OPS; and delivered nearly five wins above replacement. That production, combined with a playable center field glove, is precisely the kind of asset that rebuilding teams often cash in while they still can. Reports from ESPN and The Athletic indicate Buxton is willing to approve a move under the right circumstances. The Braves and Mets reached out about Buxton at the deadline, but he held firm to his desire to stay in Minnesota. If the Twins want to maximize value before age and injury concerns resurface, a winter move might be the moment. Why the Mets Are Locked In on a Center Field Upgrade David Stearns, the Mets' president of baseball operations, has made it clear that New York intends to improve its run prevention and athleticism. To be fair, the Twins’ front office has said similar things about Minnesota’s roster over the last year. Earlier this winter, New York traded Brandon Nimmo to Texas for Marcus Semien, signaling a shift toward better infield defense and more stability up the middle. That maneuver, though, created a glaring opening in the outfield. Juan Soto is penciled into right field, but center field remains unsettled. The Mets retained Tyrone Taylor as a depth option and are giving top prospect Carson Benge the chance to compete for a roster spot in spring training. They are also hovering around the high end of the free-agent market, where names like Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger linger. Neither of those players are center field options, though. Buxton is a different category of target. He is significantly cheaper than the star free agents and offers a reliable defensive fit, even if his power output fluctuates. If Benge proves ready sooner than expected, Buxton could shift to left field and immediately improve the outfield defense. If Benge needs more seasoning, Buxton becomes the everyday anchor in center. For a team aiming to contend with the Braves and Phillies, this flexibility matters. The Mets' window is open. Stearns has the prospect capital. The logic lines up. Mets Top Prospects Who Could Interest the Twins For a player of Buxton’s caliber, the Twins should expect multiple premium talents in return. The Mets have precisely the type of system that can support such a deal. Nolan McLean, RHP (No. 1 in the system, No. 11 in MLB) McLean is still prospect-eligible, but he's a big-leaguer and could step into the Twins’ rotation if they trade from their veteran starting pitcher depth. Last season, he posted a 2.45 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP and 27.2 K% at Double A and Triple A. He was even better during his big-league debut, with a 2.06 ERA and 30.3 K% in eight starts. McLean would be tough to wrestle away, even for Buxton. Carson Benge, OF (No. 2 in the system, No. 21 in MLB) This is another tough piece to pry loose. Benge is likely to debut in 2026 and could slot into New York’s outfield for years. Last season, as a 22-year-old, he moved through the three highest levels in the Mets' farm system. In 116 games, he hit .281/.385/.472, with a 150 wRC+. If Minnesota insists on a potential Buxton replacement, they will start the conversation here. Jett Williams, IF (No. 3 in the system, No. 30 in MLB) Williams has on-base skills and defensive versatility that fit Minnesota’s development patterns perfectly. He might be the most realistic centerpiece, if New York wants to keep Benge and McLean. Last season, he hit .261/.363/.465, with a 136 wRC+ in 130 games, although that included some struggles upon a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse. He was drafted as a middle infielder but has also played some center. Like Benge, he would be a plausible Buxton replacement. Jonah Tong, RHP (No. 4 in the system, No. 46 in MLB) Tong won MiLB's Pitching Prospect of the Year Award in 2025 and profiles as a rotation stabilizer with upside. At the two highest levels of the minors, he posted a 1.43 ERA (best among full-season qualifiers) and led the minors with 179 strikeouts in 113 2/3 innings. His 40.5% strikeout rate, 29.9 K-BB%, .148 opponents' batting average, 1.68 FIP, and 2.16 xFIP were all tops among minor leaguers with at least 100 innings pitched. His brief struggles in the big leagues at age 22 might make the front office hesitate, but this is precisely the type of right arm the Twins covet. Brandon Sproat, RHP (No. 5 in the system) Sproat is a power righty who could help the Twins as soon as 2026. He pitched the bulk of his innings at Triple A last season and compiled a 4.24 ERA, with a 1.24 WHIP and a 22.1% strikeout rate. Adding him as part of a larger package would firm up Minnesota’s pitching depth. Jacob Reimer, 3B/1B (No. 6 in the system) One of the best third base prospects in baseball, Reimer would give Minnesota a long-term solution behind Royce Lewis or a high-ceiling bat if injuries or roster decisions shift the infield picture. He split time between High A and Double A last season, with a 157 wRC+, 21.5% strikeout rate, and 11.1% walk rate. Reimer is a right-handed power bat, something the Twins have lacked in recent seasons. A realistic Twins ask could be a package built around Williams or Reimer, paired with a pitching prospect like Tong or Sproat. If the Mets are determined to push past other NL East competitors, this is the price they will finally agree to pay. A Buxton trade is not imminent, but the conditions feel more aligned than ever. The Twins need young, controllable talent with a chance to make a big difference. The Mets need a steadying force in center field. Buxton is increasingly open to a new chapter. The two clubs have danced around this possibility for months. This winter might be the time they finally finish the song. Which prospects would make an ideal Buxton package? Would the Mets overpay for Buxton? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article